Website: Critical Issues Commentary
You can find the other portions of this program, Led by The Spirit, here: Below is Part 2c
The Roots and Fruits of the New Apostolic Reformation
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:19, 20).
This article explores the idea of apostles in the church throughout church history. In it I will show that the restoration/Latter Rain idea that fuels the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is unbiblical and dangerous to the well-being of Christians who become part of it.
First we will review how the early church understood apostles in church history. Then we will examine the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching about apostolic authority. From there we will examine the ideas of a 17th-century mystic given new life in the Latter Rain movement, and now the NAR.
At a 1996 Fuller Seminary conference hosted by C. Peter Wagner, a movement that Wagner previously labeled “post-denominational” became the New Apostolic Reformation.1 Besides Wagner himself is another person prominent in the movement—Bill Hamon—who is strongly endorsed by Wagner. Hamon is important, as we will see, because his ministry goes all the way back to the early 1950’s and began on the heels of the Latter Rain Movement.
How the Early Church Understood Apostles
In 97 AD, Clement of Rome wrote an epistle to the church at Corinth. The epistle provides solid evidence that the early church did not believe that the apostles had successors or that new apostles were needed in order to provide direction to the church. At issue was the fact that certain individuals in Corinth challenged the duly constituted elders’ authority; Clement wrote to correct them. Clement’s testimony is remarkable because he likely was the Clement mentioned in Philippians 4:3, whom Paul called a “fellow worker.” Clement mentions the apostles in this passage:
The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.2
Although the Roman Catholic Church claims that Clement himself was an apostle of Christ in succession from Peter, Clement claimed no such title and neither did he acknowledge any apostles but the true apostles—the ones Christ appointed personally. What we will see from Clement is that the apostles appointed overseers and elders (the same group), and these were the authorities in the local church. The apostle Paul had given instructions on the qualifications and roles of elders (Acts 20:28 – 31; Titus 1:5-9; 1Timothy 3:1 – 7) and provided for their continuation (2Timothy 2:2). Clement goes on to discuss this:
Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them.3
Clement did not claim the apostolic authority to intervene, but rather pointed to elders who were appointed according to the standards of the Biblical apostles. It is noteworthy that he used the terms “episcopate” and “presbyters” interchangeably for the same people. Soon the church would develop “bishops” over cities (the “monepiscopate” or single bishop over a city), which was an innovation not endorsed by the Biblical apostles. However, Clement, who had been an associate of Paul, used episkopos (overseers or bishops – KJV) and presbuteros (elders) to describe the same group of people. This is precisely what Paul did in Acts 20:17, 28 when he called the elders together and described them as “overseers.”
By 97 AD, the authorities in the church were not apostles and prophets, but elders who had been appointed according to the standards lain down by the apostles. Those who claim that God always intended there to be authoritative apostles in the church who give binding revelation ignore the fact that the apostles themselves never anticipated that they would have successors and gave no instructions for the qualifications of any such successors…
The Roman Catholic Church’s Apostles
As church history progressed, the understanding of church authority as seen in the days of Clement of Rome disappeared very quickly in favor of the monepiscopate and progressed from that unbiblical innovation to the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. This idea eventually led to the Papacy. Later in church history, and in amazing irony, the Roman Catholic Church claimed that Clement was a successor of Peter and had apostolic status. This travesty dishonors the very teachings of Clement himself who taught no such thing….
17th Century Mystic Jane Leade Prophesies of a Coming Elite Church
One of the problems that attended the Reformation was the presence of “enthusiasts” who claimed direct revelation from God. The Reformers universally condemned such persons and movements, but that did not deter them from gaining followers. One who arose a century after the Reformation and who continues to have followers was an English mystic named Jane Leade. Her writings are posted on the Internet by persons who have affiliations with latter day apostles and prophets. She held to a theory of church history that claimed that the seven churches in Revelation stood for seven successive stages of church history. There are some today who still teach this theory. The problem with it is that there is nothing in Revelation itself that indicates John expected his readers to understand it that way. This is a classic case of the reader determining the meaning of the Bible rather than the Spirit-inspired author.
Leade was particularly interested in the church at Philadelphia because Christ found no fault in it. She was involved in a movement called “The Philadelphian Society,” named after that church. In 1679, the Philadelphian Society and the Theosophists published a document containing a 60-point prophecy by Jane Leade (the document has her name as Lead).8 The document proposes ideas that resurfaced in 1948 in the Latter Rain movement, and, as we shall see, are still being promoted by a key Apostle-prophet of the New Apostolic Reformation.
The first several points of the prophecy are about sealed mysteries that would be revealed only to “worthy searchers.” She claimed that there was an Ark of the Testimony in heaven containing new revelations to be opened during the church age. She wrote under point 8, “The presence of this divine ark, will constitute the Philadelphian Church, and wherever that is, there must the ark of necessity be.” Thus the group was called the “Philadelphian Society” which published “Theosophical Transactions.”9 She goes on to prophesy of an elite church that would be beyond anything previously known. In fact this church would be a “virgin” that would give birth to the “son” mentioned in Revelation 12:5:
14. Of the stem of DAVID, a virgin church, which hath known nothing of man or of human constitution, is yet to be born. 15. And if it be yet to be born, then it will require some considerable time before it gets out of its minority, and arrives to the full and mature age. 16. The birth of this virgin church was visionally typified to St. JOHN by the great wonder in Heaven bringing forth her first born, that was caught up to the throne of GOD 17. FOR — As a virgin woman brought forth CHRIST after the flesh, so likewise a virgin woman is designed by God, to bring forth the FIRST BORN after the Spirit, who shall be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power. 18. The VIRGIN that is hereto designed, must be as of a pure spirit, so also of a CLARIFIED body, and all over impregnated with the Holy Ghost. 19. This church so brought forth and signed with the mark of the divine name, shall be adorned with MIRACULOUS GIFTS AND POWERS beyond whatever yet hath been. . . . 23. This Catholic and anointed church must be perfectly holy, as CHRIST himself is holy; so that it may worthily bear the name of the Lord our Holiness, and the Lord our Righteousness. 24. Until there be such a church made ready upon the earth, so holy, so catholic, and so anointed, that is without all spot or wrinkle, and that is adorned as a bride to meet her bridegroom, CHRIST will not personally descend to solemnize this marriage, and present the same to his Father.
This prophecy of a perfected church (later called the “many-membered man-child”10 ) that will be the incarnation of Christ on the earth while Christ remains in heaven sets the stage for the Latter Rain movement in the 20th Century that would make the same claims. Whether that movement got its ideas from Leade or came up with the same heresy independently I cannot say at this time. But the ideas are identical. The church must be perfected on earth before Christ can return, and this shall be accompanied with miracles and power greater that at any time in church history—including Pentecost.
The Latter Rain Movement: Five Fold Ministry Elitism
In the 1930s, a man by the name of William Branham began to preach and exhibit supernatural manifestations. George Hawtin and P. G. Hunt heard Branham speak in Vancouver and brought his ideas to North Battleford, Saskatchewan where the “Latter Rain” revival that became the New Order of the Later Rain (NOLR) actually began. A key book that was circulated at that time was Atomic Power with God Through Prayer and Fasting by Franklin Hall. A key idea that still persists is that God is continually desiring to do great and powerful miracles through the church but is unable to do so because the church has not become holy enough, desired it badly enough, has failed in numerous other ways, or lacks the faith that is necessary to precipitate these miracles. The Latter Rain has always been predicated on elitist ideas such as those of Jane Leade previously cited. They consider ordinary churches to be miserable failures that God cannot use.
In 1951, George Warnock wrote a book that became one of the most important statements of the ideas of the NOLR, The Feast of Tabernacles. The book is based on an allegorical interpretation of the feasts of Israel that has the Feast of Tabernacles standing for a glorious end-times church that would arise before Christ can return. The entire book can be read online, as it is posted by current advocates of Latter Rain theology.
Warnock, like Myland, allegorized the rains in Israel to make them create a scheme of church history:
Joel’s prophecy, therefore, speaks of Pentecost–but it goes on to embrace the fullness of Pentecost, even the Feast of Tabernacles. God did give the former rain moderately–in the Pentecostal Age extending from the early Church until now. But here is something very unusual. Right here in the “first month” of the Agricultural Year . . . God has promised to do something most unusual; for He would give, not only the former rain which belongs to that month, but He would give the former rain and the latter rain combined!”11
This he interpreted to mean that the Latter Rain would be characterized by far greater power and glory than what was seen in the Book of Acts. Warnock thereby set the stage for the grandiose claims that are made by the apostles and prophets of our day. It is not inaccurate to say that there is no claim so grandiose that the latter day apostles will not make it. We shall demonstrate that when we examine the writings of one of their top leaders.
Warnock also claimed, like Jane Leade, that Jesus would remain in heaven until after the church achieved elite status never before seen in church history, including that of the Biblical days:
O the immensity of these words! And what is more, Christ is going to remain right where He is at God’s right hand until there shall arise a group of overcomers who shall conquer over all God’s enemies. . . . And yet the majority of Christians are looking for a rapture any moment, when Christ is supposed to catch away a miserable, defeated, disease-ridden Church.
Notice that ordinary Christians, in this elitist thinking, are “miserable, defeated, and disease ridden.”
One of the most heretical teachings associated with the NOLR was called “the manifested sons of God” that claimed that certain elite Christians would obtain the promise of immortality (as promised in Romans 8:19) now rather than at the parousia. Warnock taught that all enemies, in which he included death, the “last enemy,” had to be conquered by the church before Christ could return: “God says Christ is going to stay right where He is until all His enemies are under His feet. And His enemies include the “last enemy,” which is Death. There must arise a group of overcomers who shall conquer and become absolutely victorious over all the opposing forces of the world, the flesh, and the Devil–before this dispensation draws to a close.” 12 The “overcomers” is another term used by the Latter Rain to describe elitist Christians who are to be distinguished from the rest of us. This is in spite of the fact that the following verse applies to all Christians: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith” (1John 5:4).
One of the ironies of the Latter Rain and New Apostolic Reformation movements (the latter is merely the current version of the former as I will demonstrate) is that they hold to a “restoration” scenario in which God is supposedly progressively restoring truths lost during church history and now are being restored starting with the Reformation..
But ironically, NOLR and NAR teachers constantly contradict and reject important Reformation doctrines. They want to claim the Reformation as theirs and reject it at the same time.
Hamon became involved with C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation at its very inception:
The National Symposium on the Post-Denominational Church convened by Dr. C. Peter Wagner at Fuller Seminary, May 21-23, 1996, was a historical occasion in God’s annals of Church history. It was prophetically orchestrated by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s progressive purpose of bringing His Church to its ultimate destiny. . . . The consensus of the panelists was that there are still apostles and prophets in the Church, and that there is an emerging Apostolic Movement that will revolutionize the 21st-century Church. The last-generation Church will have an Apostolic Reformation that will be as great as the first-generation Apostolic Movement.16
With Wagner’s endorsement, Hamon brought the teachings of the Latter Rain movement into the NAR.
Latter Rain Heresy is Renamed and Reintroduced
The differences between the Latter Rain Movement and the New Apostolic Reformation mostly have to do with terminology, not doctrine. In the 1980s, a teaching circulated amongst those who attend conferences put on by those in the prophetic movement called “a new breed of man.” The basic idea is that ordinary Christians throughout church history had been colossal failures and that God was going to fall upon certain persons by His Holy Spirit and “impregnate” them so that they could “give birth” to something entirely new. The “new breed of man” would be exalted saints with holiness and power never known before. I remember debating people at the time who were following this teaching.
Bill Hamon includes the “new breed” idea in his teachings:
“The new breed of Joshua Generation apostles will move in the miraculous and definitely manifest the signs of the apostle.”23
The “Joshua Generation” is another allegory popular in this movement. The crossing of the Jordan into the promised land by Israel is allegorized to mean the triumph of the church over all enemies so as to take the land, “every place your sole treads” they claim. The “new breed” means that they are not of the same order of humans as other Christians who have ever existed.
Hamon further states: “Let it suffice to say here that the new breed of apostles will be motivated by the Spirit of Wisdom.”24
The NAR claims that Christ is coming IN the church not FOR the church. Hamon claims that he himself is one of God’s “new breed” of last-days apostles.25
The Joel’s Army Heresy Reintroduced
One of the discredited teachings of the NOLR was called “Joel’s Army.” The claim was that Joel 2:1-11 predicts that the end time church will be “Joel’s Army” that will execute God’s judgments on the earth. This is another false Latter Rain teaching that Bill Hamon still propagates. Here is his claim:
The saints are being trained now in the military bases of international training centers and their local church armories. The goal is to have them taught, equipped and field trained to be the officers that lead God’s army of prophetic evangelist saints during the coming Saints Movement. They will minister under the covering and leadership of fivefold apostolic and prophetic generals who trained them. These saints will function like God’s army prophetically described by Prophet Joel (Joel 2:1-11).29
The “Kingdom Now” Heresy Reintroduced
Another “movement” that Hamon predicts he calls “The Kingdom Establishing Movement.”31 Here he makes even more grandiose claims:
The movement will not cease until all knees bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus is the true Lord God over all the earth. That does not imply that everyone who makes that confession or acknowledgement is saved. However, there will be such worldwide demonstration of God’s power over the elements, people raised from the dead, miraculous control of natural catastrophes, miraculous prophetic words and endless supernatural manifestations, signs and wonders, until everyone will have to acknowledge that there is no god like Jesus Christ, the God of gods and Lord of lords.32
The Bible Prophesies End Times Delusion
Having seen the consistent claims spanning several centuries right up to the present that elite Christians shall arise and overcome death before the rapture, do greater miracles than those of the Biblical accounts, defeat all of God’s enemies while Christ remains “held in the heavens,” and become the virgin born, new breed of man, manifested sons, the very incarnation of God on earth, etc., let us consider what the Bible predicts about the end time. The Bible teaches none of these heretical doctrines uniformly based on allegorized Scripture, but rather teaches that massive deception through false signs and wonders would characterize the end of the age.
Jesus said: “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. . . . For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:11, 24). He did not tell us to look for a “new breed” of “anointed ones” (christs) but warned us to avoid their deceptions.
Paul predicted perilous times of sin and evil at the end of the age where men will oppose the truth by doing false signs and wonders like Pharaoh’s magicians opposed Moses (2Timothy 3:1-8). Peter predicted that false teachers would arise and seek to seduce the church by exploiting us with “false words” (2Peter 2:1-3). John warned us that in the last hour there are false “anointed ones” (antichrists). Paul tells us where this is all headed: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” (2Thessalonians 2:3).
Furthermore, the passages in Revelation that the elitist, NAR and NOLR apostles appropriate for themselves, do not teach the church triumphs over the world through her own efforts while Jesus is “held in the heavens.” Their interpretations are fanciful and not based on any sound hermeneutic. They allegorize the Bible because there is no way to find their ideas in the Bible if taken literally. We need to decide whether to believe what Jesus, Paul, John and Peter said in the inerrant Scripture or the prophecies of people who claim to be new apostles and prophets while simultaneously contradicting the teachings of the true apostles and prophets.
Conclusion
Church history has shown that whenever new claimants to the office of apostle have arisen, so have false teachings. The teachings of many such persons today, as we have seen, are shocking in the extremity of their error. Yet C. Peter Wagner claims that churches that he terms “apostolic” in this new sense are part of the fastest growing segment of the church in the world today.34 Perhaps he is right; but if he is, this is proof of massive end time apostasy and not the revival he claims it to be.
The only binding authority in the church is that of Scripture. God does not bind us to mixture, error, or the musings of men. The false apostles and prophets of the NOLR and NAR have no power over the true, blood-bought church of God.
Prophets that are less than inerrant have nothing to sell but fear: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22).
The grandiose claims that span from Leade, to Warnock, to Branham, to Paulk, and to Hamon have never come to pass, and they never will. There will be no virgin born, many-membered man-child, Elijah company, new breed of man, new incarnation of the Christ on earth or any other such blasphemy.
****
*Some portions were omitted because of length, but you can read it all HERE.
Sola Dei Gloria 
Interesting read. A lot said based on many teachings of men, but little Truth based on the Word of God. There is a multitude of scripture that is in need of greater explanation than a simple denial by someone that believes the Word is meant to be read in the letter only.
2Co 3:4-6 And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Joh 6:63-66 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him. And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father. 6:66 Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
This is why John warned us to be taught by the anointing rather than the man. 1John 2:26-27, so that we would gain discernment and not be deceived by false prophets and teachers that seek to gain in this world. This topic will no doubt bring about many questions and separate those that have been taught of men from those that are taught of God. This is the critical time to learn of Christ, the time of the end of days. The tribulation is about to begin and the Word tells us about one third of the Christians will lose their anointing at the beginning of tribulation by the hand of the false prophets. Will you believe men or God ? Study God’s Word like your eternal life depends upon it, before it’s to late.
2Ti 3:13-17 But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
From a babe thou hast known, return to your first love.
Glory to The Most High God !
This Jane Leade was an interesting character to say the least.
Odd to me that the same serpent/seed teachings of her and William Branham come from a vision. His was of an Angel that now belongs to Bob Jones or Todd Bentley or whoever, hers was of Sophia….
This is a small portion of information I found. I will post a link below to the entire Wikipedia page:
Protestant Mysticism
Within the Protestant tradition in England, Jane Leade, 17th Century Christian mystic, Universalist, and founder of the Philadelphian Society, wrote copious descriptions of her visions and dialogues with the “Virgin Sophia” who, she said, revealed to her the spiritual workings of the Universe.[5]
Leade was hugely influenced by the theosophical writings of 16th Century German Christian mystic Jakob Böhme, who also speaks of the Sophia in works such as The Way to Christ.[6] Jakob Böhme was very influential to a number of Christian mystics and religious leaders, including George Rapp and the Harmony Society.[7]
Sophia can be described as the wisdom of God, and, at times, as a pure virgin spirit which emanates from God. The Sophia is seen as being expressed in all creation and the natural world as well as, for some of the Christian mystics mentioned above, integral to the spiritual well-being of humankind, the church, and the cosmos. The Virgin is seen as outside creation but compassionately interceding on behalf of humanity to alleviate its suffering by illuminating true spiritual seekers with wisdom and the love of God.
The main difference between the concept of Sophia found in most traditional forms of Christian mysticism and the one more aligned with the Gnostic view of Sophia is that to many Christian mystics she is not seen as fallen or in need of redemption. Conversely, she is not as central in most forms of established Christianity as she is in Gnosticism, but to some Christian mystics the Sophia is a very important concept.
Here is the link I mentioned in my above post
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Leade
If you read this page you can also click on the name sophia and read a page about what she represents to the gnostics, etc. I also noticed a connection between Leade and Emanuel Swedenborg. (occultic universalist teaching). Now Sundar Singh was a follower of Swedenborg. Singh claimed to frequently converse with Swedenborg in heaven. Sounds familiar huh? Funny how Todd Bentley had visions of Sundar Singh and he talked with the Apostle Paul in his rustic cabin in heaven.
Sorry I am getting off track into kooky ville here.
I hope this doesn’t sound too weird.(sometimes ideas that seem good at 2am don’t sound as good as you thought at 2pm the following day. lol)
Anyway, it looks to me like they are falling for the same temptation as Eve in the garden. – trying to become as God himself. I have no idea why they would want to do this unless it is a fear of death. They seem to be very much concerned with the flesh and overcoming natural death. Perhaps because it IS appointed unto men once to die and after that , the judgement. – A terrifying prospect for those who may be unprepared.
There’s an entire cult built around Sophia…i recall reading about how it was infiltrating womens Christian fellowship groups a few years ago. (wish i could remember where??)
Wait, it might have been this: Sophia Worship
Lisa that’s not weird at all!
And i agree.
Just musing here, but i think that is what we see in all this ‘apostolic authority’ lingo coming out of this false apostle posse–they believe they are on the road, with this new breed garbage, to becoming some type of super elite last day Christian army, who is equal with God himself in power and in authority. (like Hitler and his superman race of men and women)
When i read their letters posted here at the blog, and listen to them, i hear the echos of Lucifer’s/satans claims behind their words:
For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14
I don’t know if its a fear of death or just a hunger for spiritual power…but it also appears they are seeking eternal life ‘another way’ other then through Christ only.
I agree with the article that refutes the present theology that is nothing more than gnostic spew, however swallowed. The simplicity of the scriptures was designed that way so that the Father could relate to His children. No different than any other parent relating to a small child. Unfortunately, some men think that God has a poor record of communication, and needs man’s help to reveal Himself. As correctly observed, the Word of God is preeminent truth, without error or need of improvement. However, the so called prophets, church leaders and movement folks have ignored the fact that in 2 Cor 11: 13-15 the Apostle writes: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works!”
As the legions of evil move, the farther away from the scriptures, the deeper their flocks fall. This ideal of a superior Christian is nothing new. An old gnostic tale to lift man above his condition without humbly worshiping Jesus Christ. Further, as the apostate rulers of this fable find, they will indeed rule at their expected level, but sadly will feed at the table of the anti-Christ. Then, and only then will they be unleashed to crush the pitiful true servants of God whom are dying to keep the scriptures pure.
One reader suggests that reading God’s Word in a literal or letter sense is the problem. However, the context of scripture was taken out, by the fact that the apostle was referring to the letters of the Old Testament, and of the old covenant. I find it rather curious that the One Whom created all things. The One Whom sent Himself as atonement for man’s sin. The One Whom shall both give and destroy eternal life, cannot keep His Word, nor reveal that Word, without man’s touch.
If one truly desires to seek God’s Word, than the first thing one must recognize and accept is the fact that His Word IS
infallible. But, this is not to say that the ministers of Satan cannot corrupt God’s Word, by letter or tongue. All that is required are foolish men whom are willing to trust a new bible, or a new version of truth as preached by those who are work building the anti-Christ’s kingdom.
As a result, the scriptures of II Thessalonians chapter 2, Daniel chapters 9, 11, Revelations 6, 12, 13 and 17 are exactly as Satan desires, confusing. But God is not the author of confusion. Nor is the House of God built by the hands of men. Therefore, a repentant, humble and patient man can understand the above prophesies as God’s Spirit directs.
Last, I find that it is also troubling that most conversations do not seek to understand the identity of the anti-Christ, whom is alive today. Why most do not touch this seemingly taboo subject. Wouldn’t man be better served if one were to discuss scripture that reveal who this man is, how he rises to power, and how his miracles will seduce the hearts of men.
Quote:
The simplicity of the scriptures was designed that way so that the Father could relate to His children. No different than any other parent relating to a small child. Unfortunately, some men think that God has a poor record of communication, and needs man’s help to reveal Himself.
Mat 13:35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in PARABLES; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.
Mat 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure HIDDEN in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
1Co 2:7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a MYSTERY, even the wisdom that hath been HIDDEN, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the HIDDEN MANNA, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
Luk 10:21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst HIDE these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.
It seems many are misled, especially while in groups or denominations, thinking they can not be wrong since so many are excepting of their teachings. I have spoken with some that attend certain denominations, but do not agree with the teachings, yet never say anything as to not cause any problems. Truth is a must in every relationship with God, Jesus said those that worship the Father must worship in spirit and Truth. Few of these teachers are ever challenged for the doctrines they teach, and because they are not challenged the natural assumption is that they are correct. So, it is not uncommon that we get upset when things are said that we can not receive, or they are contrary to what we have been taught, most people are shunned if they go against the system, so we feel awkward speaking out. But those that love the Truth will not be afended when Truth is given, their spirit will recognize the Word of God. I have found the best thing to do when this happens is to reprove what is said with the Word of God. There is no true word in the world except the Word of the Almighty God. Let God be True and every man a liar. Everyone has an opinion, if you wish to be taken serious, you should prove what you claim in the Word with the Word, as the Word instructs us to prove all things. God has warned us not to be a respecter of persons, everyone is wrong at sometime or another, be prepared to discern what men say. If you believe someone or something because it is popular, or that person is popular, you only lead yourself into deception, as the Word says, those that love not the Truth, will believe a lie. There is the problem, unproven opinion causes pride to flare then separation begins, and we know from Gal.5:19-21 that Paul has said separating and dividing are works of the flesh, and those that practice such things will not inherit the kingdom.
Please!! look at these scriptures from your heart.
Isa 10:20 And it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again LEAN UPON HIM that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, IN TRUTH.
This scripture is speaking of leaning on the Lord in Truth, in that day. What it is truly saying is the remnant had not Truth because of him that smote them. Who is he that smote them ? Lets look at another verse.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.
Here we see that the Lord is talking to the preachers of that time. He is saying they are sons of the devil, they are of the evil seed. There is no Truth in him, so they are liars also. Did this apply to all the preachers of that time ? No, there are some that were in agreement with the Lord, but He used only one that we know of in all that He trained to speak His Word and lead His church. After Paul had received understanding from the Lord he said that all his prior knowledge was dung, he being the most learned for his age and taught of the strictest sect of religion in that day. Do we understand that Paul was well educated in the Old Testament and everything he had been taught was wrong ? They were taught to live by the Word, to rise with the Word, to go to sleep with the Word and ware the Word on their foreheads and their right hands, speak the Word all day and teach their children the Word. Do we really think we know the Word as well, not to be deceived? I wonder how confident Paul was before the Lord struck him down, do you think he was bothered by Stephens death, when he stood and watched him stoned to death because he didn’t believe what religion said, do you think Paul was witness to Stephens last message that caused men to get so angry that they had to murder him. If he was hard enough to stand by through all of that, what did he feel when the Lord opened his eyes and he realized Stephen was right, a Blessed man of God, Filled with the Spirit of God, so much love, he could forgive them while he was being beaten to death with those rocks. No, I must say contrary to the heiresses that have been stated here I for one am not seeking to be equal to God, by no means, but to receive the promise the gospel gives to all that obey, that is Christ in you, the hope for glory. I know Christ loved us enough to die for us, I know Stephen received that promise and he loved us and died for us, as we can assume all our forefathers in Christ did, that is the reward I seek.
Ecc 1:9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Here in Ecclesiastes, Solomon informs us that all things repeat and will continue to do so as long as we are under the sun. I have not yet found a reason stated for this in the Word of God, but I think it may be to show that God is sovereign and there is no power that can change that, this is proof of doctrine, if it is in the scriptures then it will be again, but since the world has grown, then also the fulfillment of that event will be larger, we must search it out, look beyond the letter to find a match. God declares He has hidden it and we must seek it out. With that being said lets go on to Isa.14.
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!
This is what you are referring to in your post. And the idea you are pursuing is satan is a fallen angel, a glorlyous angel as thought of in Eze.28 and we as men follow after. Well, lets first look at the name Lucifer. Lucifer is a Latin name that means: shinning one, day star, morning star. This name Lucifer first showed up in the Latin Bible translation called the Latin Vulgate in 405AD, which makes sense to use a Latin name for day star in a Latin Bible. It is found in two places in the Vulgate, first in Isa.14:12 then later in 2 Pet.1:19, but interestingly when we get to the next later translation, in Greek we find it only in Isa.14:12, so then we can definitely see that someone is attempting to establish a doctrine by saying the day star in Isaiah Is satan and the day star in 2 Peter is Christ. Well, that day star in 2 Peter 1:19 is the promise of the gospel, Christ in you, Peter tells us to take heed and await until the day dawn and the day star arises in our hearts. Christ tells us in Rev.2:28 He will give us the morning star. In Rev.22:16 Christ reveals to us that He is the morning star. Now, armed with this information, we know who the son of the morning is in Isa.14:12. You still don’t see it, lets look deeper into the Word. Start with Isa.14:1-4 you can count ten times in these four verses Isaiah refers to all these things as future events, not past, that’s right, they have not happened yet, read these verses and you will understand he is speaking of the end of days. The next several verses speak of the rest that is on the earth since the Lord’s return, the king of Babylon or day stars being brought down to hell and become weak in death only to be told their pride has brought them to death. In verse 13 we read how the day stars sought to be above the stars of God, there are many passages that refer to this, first we know the stars are the children of Abraham as God promised to him, then we know in the parable of the seed the thirty, sixty, and hundredfold anointing Jesus spoke of that referring to the three glories Paul spoke of in 1 Cor.15, star, moon, and sun glories are the same glories John spoke of in Rev.12 with the woman clothed in the sun, moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, this all speaks of the church of the twelve tribes in her glories. The mount of congregation in Isa.14:13 is the mountain of God, the church that the day stars wish to rise above, if you recall in Mat.20 the Lord tells how the gentiles seek authority over His church, but He will not have it in His kingdom. These are the ones Isaiah is speaking of that by force and abuse of their anointing they subdue the kingdoms of the world, only to loose their lives for not acting according to the Word. In Isa.14:14 it is the same, they seek authority over the clouds, or preachers as described in Col.1:12. In Isa.14:16 the king is referred to as a man, in 17 is said to have made the earth a wilderness, which is tribulation, in 19 he is referred to as the abominable branch, which Christ referred to as I am the vine, ye are the branches. Branches are named several places through out the Word, Old and New Testaments as receivers of God’s anointing through the seed of David. Yet, with all this Truth many still will not receive that satan is the spirit of man. Look at these few verses.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the BEGINNING, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. — Many say that there was a beginning before the beginning of creation, but that is not what the Word says.
Col 1:14-18 in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: WHO IS THE BEGINNING, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
— If you can not yet receive these words consider these verses.
Deu 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
Jos 23:15-16 And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which the LORD your God spake unto you, so shall the LORD bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. When ye transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is NO POWER BUT OF GOD; and the powers that be are ordained of God.
Isa 54:16 Behold, I HAVE CREATED the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I HAVE CREATED the waster to destroy.
— If you can receive it, satan is not a fallen angel he is a created spirit of man GOD CREATED AND USES as a tool to refine the gold, silver, wood and earthen vessels in His house, God created satan to expose the sin and evil in man’s heart, to burn off the dross. You see, Eve fell in the garden not because she wanted to be as God, but because she didn’t want to listen to God, she would rather listen to that spirit of man. What has been shall be. Surely God won’t kill me, I’m the mother of all living (the church). As in John 6:66, so also in our day, many fell away because they would not eat the body and drink the blood of Christ, who is the Word made flesh. They would rather eat the word of the false prophets that they all fall into the pit.
2Ti 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from THE TRUTH, and turn aside unto FABLES.
Amen.
I second that amen Dave!
IS SARAH PALIN A REAL CHRISTIAN?
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;Sent: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 9:19 am
Subject: Sarah Palin video
http://lin k.brightcove.com/services /player/bcpid1766638341
[…] – The Manifested Sons of God heresy and the New Apostolic Reformation […]
This article is no joke. I’ve been tracking apostasy in the church for a while and collected some amazing links on my Facebook wall. The apostasy is wide-spread and breaks my heart when I see just who is involved. But don’t take my word for it. Grab a Bible and feel free to drop in.
Thanks Shawn… will check it out 🙂